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“First stop is The Inner Circle,” Kasey announced.
“Sounds very exclusive.” Laura worried that maybe she’d underdressed. Looking at her friend and comparing outfits, Laura imagined that she’d be the Pollyanna-type next to Kasey’s exposed assets.
“Tonight the club’s only open to the staff, that’s about it. Most of the staff hangs out there before we go our separate ways. But there’s also a few other companies in the area that come to see who is our fresh meat. Can’t complain, though. We do the same with their people.” Kasey leaned over and squeezed her hand. “Can’t wait to show you off.”
“Look, I’m only hanging out. Mainly because you insisted,” Laura protested. “I’m not looking for a man.”
“These days, no one looks for a man.” Kasey impatiently honked at the car in front that didn’t pull off a second after the light turned green. “This is the age where we sample the goods, but don’t stay for the feast.”
“Well, I’m not hungry.”
Kasey laughed. Laura couldn’t help smiling. She suspected that her friendship with Kasey would be full of adventures. She hoped that she had the stamina to keep up with her.
They pulled into the parking lot, which looked fairly full. Most of the nearby parking spots were gone with only handicapped spaces available. Kasey parked between two mini-vans. Then she reached into the glove compartment and pulled out a blue hanging handicapped sign. She hooked it on the rear view mirror gave Laura a wide smile and exited.
“Kasey, you’re not handicapped!”
“I know. It’s my mother’s. When I go out at night I use it. Figure it’s safer to park near the entrances to the clubs.” Kasey strutted off in her tight-fitting scooped-neck T-shirt and jeans that looked two sizes too small.
“Kasey, you can’t park here!”
Kasey didn’t turn around and was at the entrance.
Laura ran after her. “Give me the keys, then. I’ll park it.”
Kasey tossed the keys to her and disappeared through the doors.
“What a wench,” Laura muttered.
She got into the car and drove around to the side where there were several open spaces. She didn’t care if Kasey was irritated by her citizen-of-the-year performance a few seconds ago. If she didn’t move the car, she’d think about some person with physical challenges struggling to get into the bar while she and her friend, whooped it up inside.
Unfortunately, she knew all too well what it was like to be considered less than normal.
“Laura?”
Laura recognized the smooth tone that used to call her endearments like pretty lady, sexy brown eyes and her personal favorite, sweet buns. Her cheeks warmed. Thank goodness for the cool evening.
“Glad to see you’ve discovered our favorite watering hole.” Chase caught up to her near the doorway.
“Kasey invited me,” Laura explained. She touched her hair, hoping that there were no stray strands poking up in the air.
They entered the darkened interior. Laura waited a few seconds for her eyes to adjust. She didn’t need to bother.
“Laura! Chase! Over here.” Kasey stood on a chair, holding a bottle of beer. She waved at them as if they were a hundred feet away.
“Hey, guys,” Chase responded. His voice had changed into a low boom that made her jump. “Look who I found wandering outside.”
Laura glared at Chase, not appreciating being the object of his joke.
“Introductions, please.” A young man hit his empty glass repeatedly on the counter. “I’m liking what I’m seeing.”
“Hold your horses, Brandon,” Chase responded. “Everybody, this is Laura Masterson.”
The responding greetings came back to her like an echo. Then they went around the table sharing their names. Some she recognized, but some didn’t work with at the university. The young man who’d smiled like a kid in a candy shop perked up like a spaniel when it was his turn.
“Brandon Littlejohn, computer whiz extraordinaire. I work with the brokerage firm about ten minutes away.” His voice carried a thick layer of boastfulness.
At first, he seemed cute and harmless. But with one drink thrown back and another one quickly ordered, Laura wondered if she was going to be stuck with his unwanted attention.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got your back,” Chase whispered in her ear. His breath tickled her ear. “And what a lovely back it is.”
At twenty-six years old, she blushed. So he would still take it there. Whatever it was. She couldn’t define what he did to her, how his words could make her emotions swirl like the beginning of a wind storm. On the other hand, his words could also cause a freeze. That, she didn’t care for.
“Whoa, sweetie, I didn’t mean to anger you.”
Laura pulled her hair back around her ear. She accepted her drink from the waitress, taking a deep sip of cola as if it had the properties to dull her senses. She wanted more than dulling of the senses, she wanted total numbness.
“Keep it up and I’ll switch chairs,” Laura threatened. The only seat available happened to be next to Brandon. On one side was the geek who thought he was Casanova. On the other side, a remarkable physical specimen who once had been her Casanova.
“I won’t tease you anymore.” He smiled and touched his hand to his heart.
“Apology accepted.”
“How’s work?”
She nodded, glad for the switch in subjects.
“Getting the hang of things?” he asked.
“Going pretty good. Can’t complain.”
“How’s the kid with the stress fracture?”
“Hey, you two, no shop talk,” Kasey shouted from across the table. Her edict was followed by several kernels of popped corn being tossed at Laura and Chase.
They ducked trying to miss Kasey’s accurate aim. They only succeeded in bumping heads.
“Ouch. Good gosh, you’ve got a hard noggin.” Laura rubbed her forehead wincing at the sore spot.
“Let me have a look.” He promptly grabbed her face in his hands. “Whoa. Are you going to look a sight tomorrow,” he whistled.
Laura jerked her head away from Chase’s hand. Her body responded, recognizing the trigger that caused a physical reaction that had nothing to do with extreme temperatures. A warm flush blossomed from her cheeks, where his hands only a few seconds ago pressed against her face, and now ran through her body.
“You know, you don’t have to be afraid of me.” Chase looked perplexed.
“I know. I’m not.”
“Could have fooled me.” Chase drained his glass and set it down with a firm tap.
“Look, Chase, I don’t understand why we’re suddenly in each other’s space. You’ve moved on and so have I.” At least she was trying to move on and not think about him. Now that she worked in the same building and for him, her emotional separation threatened to evaporate.
“Hey, you two,” Kasey shouted across the table. “Looking awfully serious.” She and few others shared a laugh at their expense.
“Laura is an old friend from my hometown in Maryland,” Chase explained.
Laura saw the sudden gleam in Kasey’s eyes as she glanced at him and then at her. To her horror, Kasey picked up her drink and practically ran over to them.
“Laura, some friend you are.” Kasey playfully punched Laura in the arm. “How could you keep this from me? To the famous Chase Westfield and Laura Masterson.” She grinned, her face looked as if she would burst before she had the first opportunity to tell the news.
“It was a long time ago.” Laura didn’t bother to look at Chase, not caring what his version would be.
“Looks like there may be some spark left.” Kasey signaled the waiter over and ordered another round. “Get this one a chardonnay, instead of a cola.”
Laura shook her head. “Cola, please.” She had a feeling that she’d be driving Kasey home. Now that her friend was getting comfortable, they probably weren’t going to the club. This change in plans suited her. As a matter of fact, she’d rather leave now to head home.
None of them spoke. Music blared. People poured in. The bar had gotten lively. And then the karaoke singing began. Laura seized the noisy distraction to grab her soda and head for an empty seat near the stage.
Soon she was laughing as a young man attempted to sing an Earth, Wind and Fire song. His attempt at the falsetto had her doubled over with tears rolling down her cheeks. Only after he’d left did she notice Kasey sitting next to her. She didn’t want to look for Chase, but did wonder where he’d disappeared to.
“I can see why you jumped on that.” Kasey slurped her drink. Laura knew it had to be at least the fourth or even fifth drink.
“Jumped on what?” Laura shot back, as if she didn’t know.
“I’d heard he wasn’t bad to look at, but up close, he’s good gosh almighty—darned beautiful.” Kasey laughed at her own comments.
Laura shrugged, knowing that her friend would be like a dog with a juicy bone.
Another wannabe-singer walked on to the stage and decided on a Mariah Carey song. During her butchering of a perfectly fine song, the crowd who had gotten into the swing showed no mercy. By the time the poor woman had ended, the crowd had split between full laughter and boos. Laura could never boo anyone, so she opted for the side-splitting laughter. She’d feel guilty later.
“Speak of the devil.” Kasey nudged her.
“What?” Laura looked over at Kasey, then followed her gaze. Chase stood on the stage.
What the heck was he doing up there? Chase may have been a spokesman for various products and used to cameras and fans, but voluntarily having the spotlight was so not him.
“Didn’t know he could sing. My, but this is a night filled with discoveries.” Kasey slurped her drink.
“For me, too,” Laura muttered under her breath. She settled back in the chair. There would be no laughing and certainly no booing. Chase had a voice that could’ve landed him a record contract if that was his passion. She glanced around for the waiter, deciding that she might need something stronger, after all.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Chase began. “I’d like throw a little old-school out at you.”
A roar went up from the crowd. Great. He won them over with no problem. When did he become such a ham? Back in the day, he only sang in church and once at his mother’s birthday.
“But first, I need my partner in crime with me. We never actually sang this, but we did roller skate to it when we were kids.”
Laura stared. Then set her glass down to flee. She couldn’t believe that Chase had the nerve to spread this insanity to her. Well, she wasn’t playing.
“Folks, I think my other half is leaving. Don’t you want to hear that classic hit, Reunited, by Peaches and Herb? Come on folks, let Laura know that you care.”
Laura heard her name being thrown back at her like an annoying echo. Someone reached for her elbow, yanking her back so that she lost her footing.
“Get your hands off me.” Laura glared at the man who had too much to drink. She pushed away from him, as he hooted and hollered with his friends. She turned to look at Chase who still called her up to the stage to join him.
Anger propelled her forward. She’d had enough. With or without Kasey, she was leaving. But before she left, she planned to tell Chase and his alter ego just what she thought of his school boy antics.
Laura strode up to Chase, stopping a few inches from his face. Her finger started poking at his chest before she could think straight to get out the words.
He smiled with all his teeth and charm displayed, while she sputtered incoherently. Why did he have to look so good? Never mind that, she knew enough to stop talking when he shoved the microphone in front of her.
The music started. Then the words scrolled on the monitor. Chase put his arms around her waist. He held firm. With a bold wink, he pulled her into his arms, swaying to the music. Laura looked out at the crowd, deciding not to make a scene. Plus the song was so addictive that her brain already followed the lyrics, reminding her of their times in the roller skating rink.
As a teenager, she couldn’t wait for couples only. He’d come to take her hand while she was surrounded by her girlfriends. They would descend into a giggling mess, while she left them for Chase. They’d skate hand-in-hand, weaving their way among the others, each wrapped up in their own world.
She may not have been allowed to go on dates, but the skating rink was as good as alone time. Her siblings had to attend and so did his sister. But everyone was on the prowl to hook up with someone, so no one bothered her and Chase. Besides, everyone took it for granted that they were together.
She sang the words, knowing that she wasn’t anywhere close to the quality of Chase’s melodious voice. Although she sensed him looking down at her, she refused to look into his eyes. He already had enough power over to her to make her act like a fool for four minutes. She didn’t need her legs to feel like rubber when she gazed into his honey brown eyes.
The song did manage to summarize some of her feelings and the current state of affairs with this sudden reunion. Boy, did it feel good to lean against his body, firm and very muscular. His hand sliding up and down her back made her want to purr. She was relaxed enough to sway in time with him. Her leg slipped between his as they waltzed the last verse.
Her brother, Pierce, had taught her to dance the box step. But Chase had taken it to another level full of sensuality and forbidden passion. When he spun her and ended the move with a dip, she succumbed and slowly moved her gaze from his full lips in its constant grin, up to his nose with its slender bridge, up to his eyes that pierced her with their intensity.
The song died and yet she remained in his arms. Good sense prevailed as she broke the eye contact. Or, maybe it was Kasey’s sudden appearance as she popped her head between theirs.
“That was awesome, guys. Ever thought about taking that stuff on the road?” Kasey straightened up and emitted a loud hiccup. “You all shouldn’t break up. Ya’ll look too good together.”
Laura stepped away from Chase. Any high that she could’ve blamed on the caffeine from the cola was gone. There’d be no getting together. His family had made sure of that and he had aided and abetted everyone’s handiwork.
Maturity had given her an upper hand. She didn’t plan to be in the position where a man’s rejection could devastate her to that degree. Life may not have any guarantees, but it didn’t mean that she had to go blindly into wrong situations.
“Kasey, I’m ready to go.” Based on her friend’s drunken weave back to the chair, Laura figured that Kasey needed to leave also.
“What’s the rush?” Kasey asked, her voice slurred.
“You’re right, you should get her home. Do you need any help?”
Laura jumped, not realizing that he’d approached.
“I’m fine.” Kasey stomped her foot. The effort threw her off balance and she fell heavily into a nearby chair.
Laura didn’t want to make a scene. She hoped that her friend would follow her quietly to the car. Despite the fact that she really wanted to get out of there and put some distance between Chase and herself, she couldn’t in good conscience leave Kasey. She’d never forgive herself, if something happened.
“I don’t need your help.” Kasey showed her annoyance by shoving a chair aside before Laura clamped a tight, firm grip around her friend’s waist and propelled her out of the building.
Immediately the cool night air hit them with a shocking blast. It had the desired effect, letting some rational thought make headway this disastrous night. She snapped the seat belt around Kasey.
A tap on the glass startled her. Her nerves were on edge.
Chase motioned for her to lower the window. She started the car first just to let him know that there would be no long conversations. Then she pushed the black button on the door panel until the window slid down mid-point.
